By Bill W. Cooper
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), in collaboration with its partners yesterday, kicked off a highly anticipated two-day Rice Symposium, aimed at addressing key challenges and exploring innovative solutions in the country’s rice sector.
The event garnered significant attention from various stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, researchers, and industry experts.
The symposium, held at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi, is being sponsored by the World Bank, IFAD, USAID, European Union (EU), FAO, WFP, ECOWAS, and IITA.
The symposium, comprising interactive sessions, panel discussions, and presentations, served as a platform to exchange knowledge, ideas, and experiences among participants.
With the theme “Getting Rice Right,” the symposium highlighted the crucial role of rice production in the country’s agricultural sector.
One of the primary objectives of the symposium, according to Agriculture Minister, Jeannie Cooper, was to identify the key constraints that hinder the growth of the rice industry in Liberia.
Through engaging discussions, Minister Cooper disclosed that experts and participants would discuss various challenges, such as limited access to quality seeds, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, pests and diseases, post-harvest losses, and lack of modern farming techniques.
To address these challenges, the Minister further emphasized the need to promote sustainable rice farming practices, improve infrastructure, enhance research and development efforts, and provide necessary support to smallholder farmers.
Minister Cooper emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in revitalizing the rice industry, which, she stressed, could be done by fostering collaboration between the government, private sector players, and international organizations.
For his part, Deputy Finance Minister, used the occasion and pledged the Ministry of Finance’s fullest support through funding, in making sure that the Agriculture Ministry achieves its goals.
The ECOWAS head of delegation, Ask Ansu, and Representatives from the World Bank, USAID EU and AfDB, all expressed their commitment to translating the discussions and recommendations into actionable plans.
They further recognized the need for inclusive and participatory decision-making processes that involve all stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the rice industry.
Another key aspect the partners spoke about was the exploration of innovative technologies and practices that could revolutionize rice production in Liberia.
Meanwhile, several presentations that were made also showcased cutting-edge advancements in seed technology, precision agriculture, water management techniques, and post-harvest processing.
Experts and participants discussed the potential benefits of adopting such technologies, including increased productivity, reduced environmental impact, and improved food security.
Participants were provided with opportunities to establish valuable connections, share contact information, and forge partnerships that could lead to collaborative projects in the future.
With the collective efforts of all stakeholders, Liberia can strive towards achieving enhanced productivity, food security, and long-term sustainability in its rice sector.
